Apparatus for commingling multiple zone well production



Nov. 18, 1952 R. c. GLOVE'R 2,518,339

APPARATUS FOR COMMINGLING MULTIPLE zom: WELL PRODUCTION Filed Dec. 24, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED sTArss sormr.

APPARA-rUsFoR otg tz jn gigg n nn nnLrirLs Robert C cl ver, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc, Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 24, 1946, Serial No. 718,207

(01. res-2) Claims.

The present invention relates to well production apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for obtaining production from a plurality of zones in a well bore.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of obtaining .production through a single tubular string simultaneously from a plurality-of producing zones in a well bore and of preventing flow of production from an upper zone into a lower zone.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for comingling or mixing the production from upper and lower zones in a well bore prior to its elevation to the top of a, well bore in such manner as to prevent gas locking.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for simultaneously producing well production from a plurality of zones through a single tubing string, which apparatus acts as a gas anchor andma-intains the gas-oil ratio at a relatively low value. v

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a well production apparatus disposed in a well casing Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale, similar to Fig. 1, of the apparatus for comingling the production from upper and lower zones, and for preventing the upper zone production from flowing into the lower zone.

In the form of the invention disclosed in the drawings, it is desired to obtain production from apair of spacedzones or horizons in a well bore, the production flowing through upper and lower ports or perforations to, II in a well casing I2, 01' similar conduit, and through the casing into astring of production tubing I3 extending to the top of the well bore.

In order to prevent direct comingling between the upper and lower productioma Well packer i4 is anchored in packed ofi position in th well casing between the upper and lower casing perforations [0, II. Although anysuitable packer may be uSed the one exemplified in the drawings is gar-the general type described in Uni-ted States Eatent No. 2,189,703. This well packer has the lower end of the string of production tubing l3 extendi ngi nto it in leakproof relation therewith. specificallyfthis latter relationship may be obtained by the sealing engagement of a head, I5 on an intermediate tubing string sub It with the head I! ofthe packer body [8, or by the sealing engagement of one or more side seals l9' on the 1 2 tubing string with the inner Wall of the packer body.

Production from the lower zone enters the casing through its lower perforations I1, and then passes upwardly through the packer l4 and tubing string I3. In order to prevent the production from the upper zone, which may be at ahigher pressure than the production from the lower zone, from flowing downwardly into the latter zone, a one-way valve is provided in the tubf ing string at some convenient point between the upper and lower zones. .As disclosed in the drawings, such valve is incorporated in thesub l6 resting upon the packer head 18 and includes a valve ball 20 adapted to seat downwardly against a valve seat 2| in the sub itself. It is readily apparent that upward flow of fluid :trom the lower zone through the tubing string unseats the ball 20, to open the valve, whereasany tendency of fluid to flow downwardlythroughthe tubing string above the valve engages the valve ball 20 with its seat 2|, thus precluding fluid flow from the upper zone, throughthe tubing string I3 and packer I8, to the lower zone.

It is desired to comingle or mix the upper and lower zone productions prior to their elevation through the production tubing I3 to the top of the well bore. Such mixing is accomplished in the present instance by providing an intermedi ate collar 22 in the production string threaded onto adjacent tubing sections 23,, 24. Thiscollar includes a tubular member 25 having lateral outlets or ports 26 and lateral inlets or portsj21 separated by a solid imperforate baflle or partition 28, which preventsfdirect fluid communica tion between the sets of ports 26, 21 through the tubular member 25. A shield or bafile sleeve 29 is secured to the member 25 in any suitable man ner, as by welding, and extends upwardlyaround the inlet ports 21 and to a substantial extent thereabove. This shield 29 is spaced from the, ex? terior of the member 25 to form an annular fluid passage 30 whose inlet M is materially above the upper ports 21. n t t Production from the lower zone flows upwardly through the lower portion l3a of the tubing "string, unseating the ball 20, and flowing upwardly into the collar member 25, from which it exits through the outlet ports 25 into the annulus 32 between the tubing string I3 and easing [2.

This production then passes upwardly around the both zones then passes downwardly through the annular passage 30 between the sleeve 29 and tubular member 25, entering the tubing string l3 through the inlet ports 2'! and then passing upwardly through the tubing string to the top of the well bore. A pump mechanism (not shown) within barrel 33 of a pump, operated by a string of sucker rods 34, may be used to elevate the well production in the tubing string.

It is to be noted that the well production from the lower zone, which is usually a mixture of both gas and oil, passes through the outlet ports 26 into the tubing-casing annulus 32 and mixes with similar well production from the upper zone within the annulus. Since the comingled and mixed fluid must pass downwardly through the annular passage 30 between the shield 28 and tubular member 25 before entering the inlet ports 21, a certain portion of the gas in the oil and gaseous mixture within the tubing-casing annulus 32 separates from the mixture, the gas tending to remain in the upper part of the annulus, and resulting in production passing downwa'rdly through the annular passage 30 and into the inlet ports 21 of a comparatively lesser gasoil ratio than the gas-oil ratio of the comingled production in the annulus above the collar 22.

The collar thus effectively acts as a gas anchor and separator, the gas remaining in the oil production moving upwardly through the production tubing and into its pump portion having a lessened tendency to produce gas locking within the pump barrel 33.

' It is, accordingly, apparent that a well production apparatus has been provided which prevents the downward flowing of fluids from the upper zone into the lower zone, despite the presence of a formation pressure in the lower zone substantially less than the formation pressure in the upper zone. The operating stroke of the pump can still draw production from both zones into the tubing-casing annulus 32 above the packer l4 separating the two zones within the casing. The collar arrangement reduces the quantity of gas entering the inlet ports 21 in the collar, not only functioning as a device for mixing the production from the upper and lower zones, but as a gas anchor as well.

packer set in and sealing off said well conduit between said upper and lower openings, said packer having a passage extending therethrough, a tubing string engaging said packer and having an outlet for discharging production flowing through said packer from said lower zone into the annulus around said tubing string above said packer, said tubing string also having an inlet above said outlet, means for closing the central passage through said tubing string between said inlet. and outlet, and baiile means secured to said tubing string and closed at its lower portion below said inlet and above said outlet, said bafiie means being disposed around said inlet and having an opening at its upper end substantially above said inlet in order to convey fluid from said annulus downwardly and thence through said inlet into said tubing string.

2. Well production apparatus, including awell conduit disposed in a well bore having upper and lower producing zones, said, well conduit having upper and lower openings communicating with said upper and lower zones, respectively, a well packer set in and sealing off said well conduit between said upper and lower openings, said packer having a passage extending therethrough, a tubing string engaging said packer and havin an outlet for discharging production flowing through said packer from said lower zone into the annulus around said tubing string above said packer, said tubing string also having an inlet above said outlet, means for closing the central passage through said tubing string between said inlet and outlet, bafiie means secured to said tubing string and closed at its lower portion below said inlet and above said outlet, said bafiie means being disposed around said inlet and having an opening at its upper end substantially above said inlet in order to convey fluid from said annulus downwardly and thence through said inlet into said tubing string, and a downwardly closing valve in said tubing string below said outlet.

3. Well production apparatus, including a well conduit disposed in a well bore having upper and lower producing zones, said well conduit having upper and lower openings communicating with said upper and lower zones, respectively, a well packer set in and sealing off said well conduit between said upper and lower openings, said packer having a passage extending therethrough, a tubing string engaging said packer and having a first port establishing fluid communication between th well conduit below said packer and the annulus around said tubing string above said packer, said tubing string also having a second port above said first port establishing fluid communication between said annulus and the interior of said tubing string, an imperforate bailie extending across the interior of said tubing string between said ports to prevent direct passage of fluid therebetween through said tubing string, a

sleeve disposed around said second port in lateral spaced relation to said tubing string to form an annular passage therewith, said sleeve being closed at its lower portion below said second port and above said first port, said sleeve having an open upper end substantially above said second port to direct fluid from said annulus around said tubing string downwardly through said annular passage and thence through said second port into said tubing string above said imperforate bafile.

4. Well production apparatus, including a well conduit disposed in a well bore having upper and lower producing zones, said well conduit having upper and lower openings communicating with said upper and lower zones, respectively, a well packer set in and sealing oif said well conduit between said upper and lower openings, said packer having a passage extending therethrough, a tubing string engaging said packer and having a first port establishing fluid communication b tween the well conduit below said packer and the annulus around said tubing string above said packer, said tubing string also having a second port above said first port establishing fluid communication between said annulus and the interior of said tubing string, an imperforate baflle extending across the interior of said tubing string between said ports to prevent direct passage of fluid therebetween through said tubing string, a sleeve disposed around said second port in lateral spaced relation to said tubing string to form an annular passage therewith, said sleeve being closed at its lower portion below said second port and above said first port, said sleeve having an open upper end substantially above said second port to direct fluid from said annulus around said tubing string downwardly through said annular passage and thence through said second port into said tubing string above said imperforate baflle, and a downwardly closing valve in said tubing string below said first port.

5. Well production apparatus, including a well conduit having upper and lower inlets through which well production can flow into said conduit, a well packer set in and sealing off said conduit between said upper and lower inlets, said packer having a passage extending therethrough, a tubing string engaging said packer and adapted to be released from said packer without disturbing the set condition of said packer in said conduit, said tubing string having a first port establishing fluid communication between said lower inlet and the annulus around said tubing string above said packer, said annulus being in communication with said upper inlet, said tubing string also having a second port above said first port establishing fluid communication between said annulus and the interior of a said tubing string, an imperforate baffle extending across the interior of said tubing string between said ports ROBERT C. GLOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numberv Name Date 1,507,454 Blackburn Sept. 2, 1924 1,555,354 Carson Sept. 29, 1925 1,662,296 Carlson Mar. 13, 1928 1,674,815 Barnhart June 26, 1928 1,902,296 Traylor Mar. 21, 1933 1,964,912 Halliburton July 3, 1934 2,074,608 Gosline Mar. 23, 1937 2,104,339 Arutunofi Jan. 3, 1938 2,189,703 Burt et al Feb. 6, 1940 2,246,811 Otis June 24, 1941 2,341,359 Buckley Feb. 8, 1944 

